Supermarkets have become so appetizing that our food budgets are sabotaged down every aisle.

By Liz BiroStarNews Correspondent

"Never go to the supermarket hungry.”That used to be good advice for saving money on groceries, but supermarkets have become so appetizing that our food budgets are sabotaged down every aisle.Juicy fruit and abundant vegetables under sunny light greet us at the door. Then, it's on to fresh sushi, a massive cheese display, a wine section that seems right out of Napa Valley.Ever notice that the deli starts frying chicken about 5 p.m., sending up delectable aromas just as we're trying to scratch out dinner ideas in our post-work stress haze?Adam Baker has fallen victim to the supermarket's many charms, but he has shaken off his love affair with the sexy side of food shopping in favor of substantial savings. Baker writes for Get Rich Slowly (getrichslowly.org), a site dedicated to helping people achieve financial freedom. Additionally, he tracks his family's personal spending at Man vs. Debt (manvsdebt.com). Baker created the blog to show how he and his wife, Courtney, are getting out of $80,000 in non-mortgage debt and adopting a frugal lifestyle that allows them to pursue their dreams, starting with the few years they are spending in Australia and New Zealand.Many shoppers head to the supermarket with no plan, Baker says. Even if consumers have a budget in mind, advertising lures them toward unnecessary purchases, whether it's coupons that save mere pennies on expensive name brands or the latest snacks stuck on the end of market aisles. The overriding thought is that we must eat to live, therefore, our supermarket purchases are necessities, Baker says. “Most people don't realize how much they spend on food.”Here are some of the habits that sabotage our trips to the grocery store:Automatic assumptionsAre you avoiding store brands because you think their quality is not comparable to your favorite brand? That's a mistake, Baker says. Store brands are cheaper than name brands and often just as good. Baker and his wife run into some duds, but that doesn't stop them from sampling store brands, especially when they know the foodstuff is destined for dishes that mask flaws. Do canned beans going into the soup pot need to be perfect? Even if you end up with a product you don't like, say peanut butter, use it in a recipe, Baker advises.Making lists instead of planning menusVenturing from a list is easy when you have a vague idea of the upcoming week's meals and exactly what you'll need to prepare them. Baker prefers writing out a series of four or five meals before heading to the supermarket. He builds a list based on ingredients he'll need for those meals and brings it and his menu plan to the supermarket. “This helps keep me from buying nacho cheese chips when we're not having taco salad,” Baker says.Junk foodChips, sodas, crackers, cakes, cookies, fruit snacks – whatever junk food you're craving will hit you in the pocketbook at the checkout, Baker says. “Junk food is one of the highest markups at the grocery store,” he says. “If you're going to allow it, be very clear.” Rather than stocking up on all your favorites at once, plan a specific number of junk food servings. “Say ice cream twice a week,” and buy just enough to meet those desires, Baker says.Swiping your cardUsing credit and debit cards disconnects shoppers from how much money they have to spend, Baker warns. He prefers cash and a budgeting plan he calls “the envelope.” The Bakers set a monthly grocery budget and then put that amount of cash in an envelope. After each trip to the supermarket, they record the total spent on the envelope, thereby keeping a running tally of how much money remains in the envelope. “This has probably been the biggest way we've been able to cut back,” Baker says. If the couple goes over budget, the Bakers stick to their plan – even if items have already been rung up. “Sometimes, we have to put stuff back, and that's embarrassing, but you only do that once,” he says. Ignoring the receiptReceipts are more than their bottom lines, Baker says. Study a series of them to determine where you're spending the most money. “Find that spot and see where you can cut,” Baker says. Concentrate on “big wins” rather than saving a few pennies here and there. Does all the produce you buy need to be expensive organics? If meat is the big drain on your budget, seek a local butcher shop where prices may be cheaper or work in a couple hearty vegetarian meals a week. “Lentil soups are ridiculously cheap,” Baker says. “It's healthy, too. That's just a side effect of all this.”